A woman who broke her back and suffered several internal injuries in a serious road traffic collision 20 years ago has raised £1,190 for the Intensive Care Unit at the West Cumberland Hospital.

Ashlea McDonald and her partner, Mack, ran The Great Cumbrian Run for the North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity.

Ashlea said: “We completed the Great Cumbrian Run in one hour and 43 minutes. It was hard but so worth it.

“I’m pleased to say we have now raised £1,190 for Intensive Care Unit WCH which is amazing. I am pleased it will make a difference to the department. I am forever grateful for the care I received.”

Ashlea was involved in a serious road traffic accident that left her with a broken back and several internal injuries. She spent weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at West Cumberland Hospital before being transferred to The James Cook, Middlesbrough, not knowing if she would ever walk again.

Ashlea added: “We decided to do the run to raise funds and to say thank you for the care the staff gave to me and my family during a time we never expected to face.

“Having access to such life-saving care locally is something none of us think we will ever need, until we do. That’s why we’ve raised funds to support the Intensive Care Unit and help ensure that others receive the same level of care when they need it most.”